The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-01-19
Kerry Cattle.

Rural New Yorker.
Kerry cattle are undoubtedly an aboriginal
breed, and the only Irish breed that still ex-
lists IN the island in its pristine purity. All
the other Irish breeds have disappeared IN
der frequent crosses of Herefords, Devons
and especially shOrthOrns. Indeed, the gen
eral character OF Irish dairy cattle to-day is
as strongly shorthOrn as in the northern and
midland counties in England, and the more
clearly shorthOrn the COWS are the higher
they are priced in the larger diaries. The
Kerry COW is, and for generations has been,
the poor mans COW, the cOttier's COW, the
COW for the man who can afford to keep ONLY
one, and has scent feed for even that. As
in Youatt's days, 1t can live anywhere and
every where and yield, for its SIZE. large
quantity Of milk OF excellent quality. About
twelve quarts day is an average Weld for a
Kerry COW when she is fairly well kent and
some yield sixteen quarts daily for a con-
siderable time after calVing. The yield of
butter Is one pound Tor eleven quarts of
milk; but often higher percentage of but
ter is obtained. The following is the meas
urement Of fat Kerry COW OF the largest
strain, exhibited at late show of the Royal
Dublin Society: High at shoulder, thirty
eight inches; girth, seventy inches; length
from the top OF the shoulder to the tail
head, forty-two inches.
In form the Kerry COW is a neat, light
made animal, with fine, rather long limbs;
bne, small head, with long, clean muzzle and
thin lips; lively eyes; fine white horns, be-
longing to the middle class and turning up
ward The neck is not massive at its juno
ton with the head, but thickens gradually.
The rump is narrow and the thigh light. The
fashionable color is pure black; but some are
black and white and others red. Although
the hair is thick, the hide is elastic and mel
low, and handles" we'll. The Dexter"
strain or variety differs from the ordinary
Kerry In having round, plump body, short
and Ippo a nd al
and larger and straighter horns. It's origin
is generally attributed to selection.
Kerry cows are extremely hardy, and. al
though very active, they are very gentle, and
do well when tethered on confined bits of
grass. Although in their natural condition
they have picked up a seanty livelihood for
generations Oh thin, htllY pastures, they
generously pay for good feed, and thrive well
when kept constantly hoUse-fed. Attempts
have been made to cross the Kerry With the
kindred West Highland breed the Devon
Ayrshire and Holstein, but the results have
not been satisfactory; but when Kerry COW
is put to good shorthorn bull the produce
possess great aptitude to fatten with supe-
rior quality OF flesh and increased weight of
carcass. Youatt says Kerry cattle fatten
rapidly when required, and this is true when
they have been kept. like other breeds. on
lair pasture; but poor kerTies, especially bull
locks. when obtained direct from their native
mountain pastures, take some time before
they begin to show Improvement. But once
they begin, their progress is rapid, and, when
slaughtered, their flesh is of prime quality
hne in the grain and well favored. Their
weights, when fat, are from 800 TO 500 pounds,
though extra fed beasts will turn the scales
at SEQ pounds.
In the mountain districts of Ireland, where
the land is poor and cold and the heritage
scaDt, the Kerry is, and must remain, the
best breed, and in richer districts also she
has lately been introduced, not for fancy pur-
poses, but for her genuine merits in the
dairy. Several small importations have been
made into this country, aRd doubtless the
Kerry COW here would be quite profitable in
sections where the conditions are similar 10
those in which she Is profitable in ner native
country.